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Latest Articles
5 Reasons To Choose Artificial Grass For Your Garden
Transforming your garden is an exciting time. There are so many things to consider and so many different things you can do in order to change a...
on Apr 12, 2021
What to Know When Choosing an Air Conditioner
You cannot blame yourself when you are currently shopping for a new aircon that you would be able to use for your home. You would want to use an...
on Apr 7, 2021
The Best Flowers for Great Curb Appeal
Right now is planting season and the beginning of yard work season. One of the biggest factors in quick and successful home sales is curb appeal....
on Apr 5, 2021
5 Signs for Homeowners to Repair vs Replace Their Roof
As a homeowner, you might have noticed some changes in your roof. And you need to figure out whether it means a roof repair or you have to change...
on Apr 5, 2021
Top Tips When Choosing Houseplants for Your Home
Your home is your castle. It is somewhere you can relax, unwind, and be yourself. In the modern digital world, this is becoming increasingly...
on Apr 5, 2021
Popular Articles
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
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Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
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Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
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Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
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Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
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Cleaning Grout Lines to Look Like New
by Jessica Ackerman on Feb 12, 2010
Grout lines are often the arch enemy of a clean tile surface. They quickly collect dirt, can become discolored and, if painted, wear the color off in seemingly no time flat. Whether the tile is on a kitchen backsplash, floor or counter, cleaning the dirty grout lines can be a chore, especially if the tile covers a large area. Thankfully, there are a few tried and true methods that work to clean grout lines to look like new.
Baking Soda Paste
This environmentally friendly, green cleaning method is a combination of simple, household baking soda and water. Mix 2 1/2 parts baking soda to 1 part water, stir and create a paste. Spread the paste liberally on the dirty grout lines. Let it sit for about 30 minutes and then scrub the grout with a firm brush. Use a brush that has firm bristles, but those that are not made of metal. After scrubbing, wipe off the counter with a wet cloth to remove any baking soda paste residue. This method of cleaning grout lines usually works best with fresh stains that are relatively light in color.
Steam Cleaning
Although it may seem that steam cleaning is a new fad, it is a great way to clean a tile floor. The steam's pressure can break up stains and caked on particles that traditional methods of cleaning cannot. Steam cleaners work well on all tile surfaces and can often be found in hand-held versions for those hard to reach areas. Always be sure to use distilled water, as regular tap water can cause a build-up of calcium that will cause the steam cleaner to malfunction.
Commercial Cleaners
Commercial cleaners are another option for cleaning dirty grout lines. Shake-on powder cleaners can quickly mix up like the baking soda paste and be applied in the same manner. Liquid or gel household cleaners can also make a difference when cleaning grout. Be careful, however, that the products being used do not contain bleach if they are being used on painted grout lines as this will cause them to fade and become discolored.
Professional Strength Cleaners
Most home improvement stores carry specialty, professional grade tile grout cleaners. These harsh cleaners can quickly erode the grout after repeated use, so use with caution. If there are small children or pets in the home, be careful that the cleaner does not sit on the tile for too long, as the fumes may irritate sensitive eyes and noses. Scrub the tile grout with a stiff brush and be sure to thoroughly wipe the tiles down to remove any cleaner residue.
Cleaning grout lines to look like new is a time consuming and tedious task. It requires patience and a great deal of time. For large jobs, try breaking the room into sections and work one section at a time. This way the project can be spaced out to accommodate the time available to complete it. Once the tile grout is clean, the room will sparkle and shine and feel like an entirely different space. Protect your clean grout lines by sealing the grout lines as soon as they are dry before they can become stained again. Sealant should be reapplied every two to four years. Targeting “DIY'ers,”
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